The document discusses the history and structure of limericks. It notes that limericks gained popularity in the 1800s with Edward Lear's Book of Nonsense. A typical limerick follows an AABBA rhyme scheme, with the first, second and last lines rhyming and having the same number of syllables, and the third and fourth lines rhyming and also having the same number of syllables. Examples of limericks are provided to illustrate their structure and use of nonsensical themes.

2. ~The first second and fifth lines rhyme with
each other and have the same number
of syllables.
~ And the third and fourth line rhyme and
have the same number of syllables
~They usally start with there was a…
Or There once was a…

4.  There was a young lady of station "I love
man" was her sole exclamation But
when men cried, "You flatter" She
replied, "Oh! no matter Isle of Man is the
true explanation" Lewis Carroll

7.  Limericks began to gain their widespread
popularity in the mid-to-late eighteen-
hundreds with the publication of Edward
Lear’s Book of Nonsense in 1845 and 1872.
His verses centered on nonsensical themes
and often utilized wordplay. Although they
were usually printed in 3 or 4 lines to
accommodate illustrations, many of his
verses use the limerick rhythm and rhyme
scheme we recognize today:

8. Dancing
Step ball change
Point your toes
And have some fun!
Turn on music….
Put on shoes
And lets go have some dancing fun!!!

9. Wish wish wish for fish
Swish swish water swish
Boom boom clap
Rip rap rap
Rain rain thunder rain
Boom crack must go back

10.  Did you enjoy my powerpoint? If so
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11.  http://www.examples-
help.org.uk/limerick-examples.htm
 http://www.dltk-holidays.com/patrick/m-
limerick.htm
 "Limericks." KidZone Poetry -. DLTK's Sites,
1998. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/limerick.
htm>.
 http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2
0882.asp